6 of the Biggest Royal Sibling Rivalries and Feuds
Written by on January 29, 2023
Prince Joachim is moving to Washington, DC, after a major falling out with the royal family of Denmark and a “complicated” relationship with his brother.
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Prince Joachim, who is sixth in line to the throne of Denmark, is taking a page out of Prince Harry’s book and moving stateside after Queen Margrethe announced last year that she would be taking away his four children’s prince and princess titles and would instead receive the titles of counts and countesses.
The decision, which she said was to allow her grandchildren greater freedom, was “in line with similar adjustments that other royal houses have made in various ways in recent years,” according to a statement released by the Danish royal family.
The decision apparently came as a surprise to Joachim, who is living in Paris with his family.
“My kids don’t know which leg to stand on. What they should believe,” he said in a press statement, according to Town & Country. “Why should their identity be removed? Why must they be punished in that way?”
Joachim claimed he was only given notice of the change in titles five days before it was made public. Princess Marie of Denmark, Joachim’s second wife and the mother of his two youngest children, also told a Danish news outlet that their daughter Athena, 11, is being bullied at school by kids ridiculing her for being “no longer a princess.”
“I have made my decision as Queen, mother, and grandmother, but, as a mother and grandmother, I have underestimated the extent to which much my younger son and his family feel affected,” Margrethe said in a statement. “No one should be in doubt that my children, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren are my great joy and pride. I now hope that we as a family can find the peace to find our way through this situation.”
Joachim’s rift doesn’t appear to just be with his mother. His older brother, Prince Frederik, who is heir apparent to the throne of Denmark, came out in support of Margrethe’s decision.
“My mother has made this decision alone, because it is what she can do and it is what she wants, and she thought now was the time to make a decision that I also support and see as the right thing to do,” Frederik said outside of a Copenhagen school where he attended an event in October 2022, People reported.
“I myself am interested in the Danish monarchy staying lean over time, so I, therefore, support my mother’s decision, which she has chosen to make,” he added.
